Fermanagh will get their Ulster Championship campaign underway in just over two weeks when they take on Antrim at Brewster Park.
But for two Fermanagh men the championship starts this Sunday in Gaelic Park, New York. Roslea native Martin Rooney and Newtown’s Kevin Connolly are both involved with New York and they will get the championship up and running this Sunday when they host Roscommon in the Connacht Championship.
Rooney, who is back in New York five years after a stint back home, is heavily involved with the Brooklyn Shamrocks club and is a selector under manager Justin O’Halloran while Connolly, who is also involved with Brooklyn Shamrocks, is a member of the New York playing squad that will be hoping to spring a surprise on the Rossies.
For Roslea man Rooney, this is his first year involved with New York.
“Both myself and Tommy McConvey who manage Brooklyn were asked to come on board by Justin O Halloran, the current manager,” he said.
New York enter the championship every year with the obvious disadvantage of a lack of competitive games. While Roscommon were holding their own in Division One of the league where they reached the semi-final, New York have had to make do with training sessions and in house games. However, flooring company employee Rooney stresses that preparations have gone as well as possible for the squad.
“We have been training hard since January so fitness will definitely not be an issue and preparations have gone well. The usual story of the lack of competitive games is something that we just have to deal with. This year we kept an extended panel of 35 to 40 lads so all our in house games were competitive,” he said.
The other thing that the Big Apple side have to deal with is the fact that they have a revolving door with players coming and going each year so getting a consistency in selection can be difficult. Rooney though states that there is no shortage of quality within the present squad.
“The difference in New York and the home counties is the high turnover of players. There are a lot of lads in this year for the first time but the squad also has a lot of experience as many of the lads have played at a high level at home.”
And it takes a big commitment to play football for New York. Distance wise, players at home may travel a greater length to attend training but they don’t have to deal with New York rush hour to get there.
“It is definitely unlike home when you can be at your home pitch in five minutes. Brooklyn Shamrocks play all our games up in Gaelic Park and New York train here also. It is only 26 miles from Brooklyn and the journey should only take about 40 minutes but in rush hour can take up to two hours,” explained Martin.
As Fermanagh men Rooney and Connolly will have noted that their home county knocked the Rossies out of the championship last year, a late scoring surge seeing Fermanagh come from five points down with five minutes to go to snatch victory.
“We can definitely take heart from what Fermanagh did to Roscommon last year. The never say die attitude is something that Justin has been trying to instil in the lads. If we can get a similar result we will be more than happy,” said the Roslea man.
Connolly, who works as a bartender and is four years in New York, caught the eye playing for Brooklyn Shamrocks as they won the Junior A Division last year and they are now up to Intermediate Division. 
For Rooney, it is great to have a fellow county man involved in the New York set up. “It’s great to have another Fermanagh man in the squad and hopefully we can do the county, Roslea and Newtownbutler proud on Sunday.”
New York and Brooklyn Shamrocks may occupy much of Rooney’s time but he still has a keen interest on how his native county are going as well as the other Shamrocks in his life, Roslea.
“I still keep an eye on all the results from home. Hopefully Fermanagh can have a run in the Championship and after surviving in Division Two I’m sure hopes are high throughout the county. As for Roslea things have been going well on and off the field so hopefully another good year is in store,” he stated.
Before all that though there is the small matter of Roscommon in Gaelic Park and maybe a couple of Fermanagh men can play their part in causing the first big shock of the championship.